HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 04-21 CONCMMinutes of the Proceedings of the
Conservation Commission of the City
of Brooklyn Center In The County of
Hennepin and State of Minnesota
•
April 21, 1970
The Conservation Commission was called to order by Chairman
Audre Mossberg at 8:15 P.M.
Roll Call: Audre Mossberg, Sylvia Winkelman, Peter Simmons,
Bonnie Snater, Brian Murn, and William Price. Also present was:
B. E. Peterson, Staff Assistant.
Motion by William Price and seconded by Brian Murn to approve
the minutes of the regular meeting of April 7, 1970 as submitted.
Motion carried unanimously.
At this time Chairman Mossberg recognized Mr. Edward Kaiser,
Principal of Northport Elementary School, and 6th grade teacher
Don Becchettit, Mr. Kaiser passed out to members of the Commission
copies of Ecoloc an environmental newsletter published by the
Environmental Science Center, 5400 Glenwood Avenue, Minneapolis.
There followed a lengthy discussion by Mr. Kaiser and Mr. Becchetti
,regarding environmental education being planned for summer school
• students at Northport Elementary School. Several suggestions were
made in which the Commission could help this project. Dr. Murn
will be working on this and will receive names and resources.
At this time members of the Commission discussed the following
announcements:
1. Commissioner Price stated that 25 to 30 people were
expected to attend the Minnesota Sportsman Club at
which he will speak April 23rd at the Guaranty Bank
at 7:30 P.M. in Robbinsdale.
2. Tom Griffth will be on the multi-media environmental
show, April 28th at 12:00 noon at 2745 Park Avenue,
Minneapolis.
3. The City of Brooklyn Center Advisory Conservation
Commission is listed in the Minnesota Environmental
Resources directory
4. Chairman Mossberg announced that Mrs. Sylvia Winkelman
will be the new Vice Chairman for the Advisory
Conservation Commission
5. Chairman Mossberg announced that residents of Xerxes
Avenue have presented to the Conservation Commission
a beautification proposal in the form of a pilot project
which is presently being reviewed by the City staff.
-2-
r
6. The April 23rd issue of the Brooklyn Center Post will
contain articles about the Brooklyn Center Conservation
Commission activities, including the clean-up of debris
at Kyle Park, Saturday, April 18, 1970.
7. Chairman Mossberg announced that Mrs. Winkelman and herself
met with local Campfire groups and discussed with them
conservation oriented program activities.
8. As a result of the Governor's Conference on the
Environment,Commissioners Mossberg, Price and Gunderson
will attempt to initial closer ties with local school
districts regarding cooperation on environmental problems.
Under the item of old business the following items were
discussed:
1. Commissioner Winkleman gave a progress report on clean-up
activities in the Kylawn Park and Crystal Airport open
space area. She reported that clean-up activities will
take place on successive Saturdays, April 25th and May
2nd from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. This clean-up will
be conducted under t1-a supervision of Mr. Traverse Brown.
2. Commissioner Snater stated that the Evergreen Park
proposal will be discussed at the next Commission meeting.
3. Commissioner Snater reported that there will be an
environmental teach-in project regarding litter at the
Evergreen Elementary School on April 22, 1970.
4. Commissioner Murn and Snater commented on the North
Hennepin State Junior College seminar on environment.
5. Chairman Mossberg discussed the conservation federation's
award at the Academy of Science meeting. In the future
the Brooklyn Center Advisory Conservation Commission
might encourage other groups in giving awards regarding
conservation.
Under the item of new business Commission members discussed
the following:
1. Commissioner Price stated that his task group would
draw up a program regarding water quality studies for
Shingle Creek and Twin Lakes.
40 2. Commissioner Winkelman asked if plastic trash bags
could be donated to the Commission for litter pick-up
in local parks.
-3-
3. Commissioner Winkelman proposed that the following be
adopted by the Conservation Commission as a recommendation
• to the Park and Recreation Commission:
A. In future plans for park and boulevard planting,
that a variety of trees be considered. This would
include planting several species along a boulevard
as well as using different species in each park.
Diseases would spread less easily from tree to tree
and a disease, if it did strike, would not denude an
entire area. One example is Dutch Elm disease which
was not foreseen as a problem by cities across the
midwest,which at the time planted elm trees almost
exclusively as boulevard trees.
B. We further recommend in park plantings, to consider
species that would serve a dual purpose of shade and
beauty as well as for food for birds and other wild-
life. Any tree or shrub with noticeable seeds, berries,
or fruit in general terms, can serve as food.
Shrubbery and hedges are excellent shelter for small
animals and birds. Also a varied planting of coniferous
and deciduous trees as well as different sizes of
shrubs provide habitat fora greater variety of animal
species as well as being more pleasing to the viewer.
After some discussion a motion was made by Commissioner Snater
and seconded by Commissioner Murn to approve the above recommend-
ations including the following:
Trees are important in absorbing carbon dioxide and giving
off oxygen during photosynthesis. They are useful in screen out
fumes, disseminating fog, and separating homes and businesses. The
motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Simmons commented that for future publicity he
would write biweekly newspaper articles on conservation.
Motion by Commissioner Murn and seconded by Commissioner Price
to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned
at 11:15 P.M.
0
Chairman